Woman who died on Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas cruise ship was

Cruise Line: She missed step and fell down stairs

Linda Trischitta and Joe Cavaretta, Sun Sentinel

11:25 AM, Jan 30, 2012

10:01 PM, Jan 30, 2012

A Broward County Medical Examiner enters berth 25 at Port Everglades where the Liberty of the Seas is docked, Monday. A passenger died on board during a cruise when she fell down stairs in the ships night club.

The death of a 47-year-old female passenger aboard Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas appears to be accidental.

The victim was identified as Barbara Wood of Middleborough, Massachusetts.

The deceased woman died Monday after she missed a step and fell down a flight of stairs, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez said.

"We extend our most sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends," a statement released by Martinez from the cruise line says. "The ship's medical facility provided initial care after her fall, but regrettably, the guest passed away while onboard."

The four-night cruise that included a stop in Cozumel, Mexico, ended at 5 a.m. Monday at Port Everglades. Passengers reported hearing an alert made over the ship's speakers between 1 and 2 a.m.

Thaddeus Hamilton of Fort Lauderdale had just left the ship's Catacombs nightclub late Sunday night when he heard what he called an "alpha" alert.

"Other passengers were talking about it, that something had happened in the disco," Hamilton said.

George Brackup and his wife Rebecca Zweifel of Wilton, Connecticut said they were awakened by the announcement.

"With the sinking of that ship in Italy, I wondered what was happening," Rebecca Zweifel said.

Missy Whitlock of Atlanta said she was in the disco and praised the response by cruise ship staff.

"I was there," Whitlock said. "She fell down the steps. There was a lot of blood."

Whitlock said the club was shut down immediately and the music was turned off.